Aidan Hutchinson is taking the appropriate approach to contract extension talks

By all accounts on the ground at Detroit Lions' training camp, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is fully recovered from the broken leg that derailed what was on track to be a Defensive Player of the Year campaign last year.

With that in mind, Lions general manager Brad Holmes confirmed talks about a contract extension that would make the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL are ongoing.

The high-level numbers in play for Hutchinson naturally make the contract negotiations complicated. A per-year average in the neighborhood of $40 million is in play, with the amount of guaranteed money and how that guaranteed money is structured big points in the talks. The top end of the edge rusher market also continues to climb, and if deals somehow get done with Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons it will change again.

Unlike what's going on with Hendrickso n and Parsons, the situation with the Lions and Hutchinson is amicable. It's really only a matter of time before a deal is done.

Aidan Hutchinson has right approach to contract extension talks

Hutchinson talked to reporters after Thursday's joint practice with the Houston Texans. What's going with contract talks was a natural topic he was asked about.

“I’ve kind of been hands-off with the process,” Hutchinson said. “I think the business side can take away from your love of the game a little bit. And that’s kind of the reality of the NFL. I have a lot of people in my close circle that do deal with that, so my main focus is out here playing football, playing this game I love.”

Hutchi nson was then asked, almost as if the reporter thought he didn't answer the first inquiry well enough, when he expected a contract extension to happen ("throughout the season?" or "after the year?").

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“I’m not really sure. You can ask those guys up there,” Hutchinson said, as he glanced up toward the team offices.

Hutchinson basically said what almost every player would say in his situation, which is not a criticism. He's focused on the business he can control on the field, while letting those who are more equipped to handle contract talks handle that end of things.

That's the approach every player in contract talks should have, unless things take a dramatic negative turn and more elaborate comments become appropriate. Any negativity is usually fueled on the team's end (see the Bengals with Hendrickson and the Cowboys with Parsons).

The Lions will not be taking a negative approach with Hutchinson, because they actually value him and fully intend to make him one of the highest-paid edger rushers in the league. When the time is right, which could be anytime, a deal will get done.

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